Anchoring molding strip for floor mats and combination of elements in use thereof



Jan. 7, 1941- B. w. HENDERSON ANCHORING MOLDING STRIP FOR FLOOR MATS AND COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS IN USE THEREOF Filed Feb. 10, 1959 INVENTOR y ATTONEYS Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES ANCHORING MOLDING STRIP FOR FLOOR MATS AND COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS IN USE THEREOF Bancroft W. Henderson, Montclair, N. J.

Application February 10, 1939, Serial No. 255,613

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to sanitary floor equipment, and more particularly to an anchoring molding strip for a sanitary mat such as that disclosed and, claimed in the United States Patent 5 i to Bancroft W. Henderson, No. 2,110,909 issued March 15, 1938, and the combination of the anchoring strip, mat and structures associated therewith when in the mounted position.

A general object of the invention is the provision of an efficient, readily and economically constructed and easily installed simple means for effectively anchoring such mats into position which facilitates cleansing, and may cooperate with the mat in ministering to the comfort of the animal.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an anchoring molding strip to be positioned at the margin of a sanitary floor mat adjacent substantially upright wall-like structure which avoids breaks in the surface of the mat tending to interfere with efficient cleansing and any tendency to the formation of hard spots, bumps, protuberances, etc. occasioning discomfort which may be attendant upon the use of other mat fastening means, abates or eliminates sharp or abrupt angles in the stall or the like and recesses or cracks at mat margins thereby facilitating cleansing, andmay form an efficient protective means which tends to prevent an animal from bumping its feet against hard, unyielding substantially upright structures frequently present in existing stalls such as walls, feed troughs, etc.

An additional object is the provision of such an anchoring molding strip which has a substantially rigid body portion to insure an efficient clamping anchorage of a sanitary floor mat while presenting a smooth, soft, resilient, cushioning, moisture-impervious outer face when in position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such ail-anchoring molding strip which has flexible edges on opposite sides of the outer face, each arranged at an angle to the substantially rigid body portion adapted to flex when the strip is fastened in position to form substantially fluid-tight seals with adjacent surfaces of the mat and any wall-like structure and to enhance the clamping anchorage of the mat by the strip while substantially forming a continuation of the exposed surfaces of the mat and adjacent walllike structure.

Other objects of the invention: will in part be obvious and. will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article 55 of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of a barn showing by way of example stalls embodying the features and equipment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mat anchoring molding strip of the present invention showing in a cross-section thereof the construction and dimensions of parts substantially to scale; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional View of a stall, mat and anchoring strip showing fragmentary wall or upright structure and floor, a portion of a floor mat in position on the latter and an anchoring molding strip of the present invention all in operative position.

In accordance with the disclosure of the above identified Henderson patent at least the rear portion of the stall flooring of a cow barn is provided with. a cushioning and heat insulating cover, preferably comprising a sheet of rubber. In the preferred form the sheet extends into abutting relation with a feed trough wall at the head of the stall. Although it is usual to divide one stall from another by metal bars set into the flooring, they may be set apart from each other by solid partitions or defined by raised footings, etc. Such alternative structures involve the presence of substantially upright structures which meet the flooring at abrupt or sharp angles from which it is difficult to flush out or clean dirt, refuse and the like. Further when such flooring mats are used recesses and cracks adjacent the edges of the mats are present from which it is also dilficult to clean dirt and refuse.

The upright structures of substantially hard unyielding materials such as wood, concrete and the like, present opportunity for the animal to bump its feet tending to discomfort the animal, sometimes causing bruises and not infrequently occasioning wear of the hooves resulting in tender feet and consequential restlessness.

Even though such a mat may tend to stay in position, it is desirable to utilize fastening means. Usual types such as screws, bolts,'etc., pierced. through the mat may provide, openings in the mat through which moisture, refuse, etc., may

pass and collect between the mat and flooring and may cause the mat to tear and rip when displaced by movement of the animal. Further such fastening means and/or anchorages therefor may produce hard spots, bumps, protuberances and the like tending to interfere with the animals comfort and efficient cleansing of the stall.

These and other difficulties are efiiciently eliminated by the present invention which may be better understood by reference to the drawing wherein like parts bear like numerals throughout.

In Fig. 1 are shown dairy stalls, the common flooring II] of which may be constructed of concrete, cork brick or other like hard material. Such stalls are usually equipped with a gutter II which runs along the rear ends of the stalls and may have a feed trough I2 at the heads thereof. The stalls shown are divided from each other by metal frameworks supported by uprights I3, I3. However, it will readily be apparent that the divisions between the stalls may be provided by solid walls or the uprights I3, I3 may be set on or in raised bases. Such structures and the trough I2 provide substantially upright structures such as the wall Id of the trough I2 which meet the flooring at sharp or abrupt angles. The open framework structure shown in the drawing is preferred since it makes possible the utilization of a single mat I5 of considerable length extending over the flooring of adjacent stalls, thereby reducing to a minimum substantially upright wall structures, mat margins, recesses and abrupt angles.

In accordance with the present invention the mat I5 is anchored into position by an. anchoring molding strip I6 which when securely fastened by any suitable means clamps the end of the mat I5 against the flooring ID. The anchoring molding strip It comprises a relatively rigid body portion I! which is shown in Fig. 2 as having a face I8 adapted to engage the surface of the wall I4 of the trough I2 and a surface I9 adapted to engage the upper surface of the front end of the mat I5. This molding strip is formed of soft,

resilient, cushioning, moisture-impervious material such as rubber which is preferably vulcanized to assure resiliency and other desired characteristics. The outer face 20 of the molding strip It is shaped to eliminate an abrupt or sharp angle between the mat I5 and the Wall I4 and is preferably concave as shown.

On opposite sides of the body portion I1 the strip I6 is provided with flexible edge portions 2|, 2| preferably terminating substantially in feather edges. Each edge portion. 2| is arranged at an angle to the body portion I! as shown so that they both can be flexed to form substantially fluid-tight seals and/or refuse-free joints with the adjacent upper surface of the mat I5 and the surface of the wall I4 and further to con-- tribute to the clamping action of the strip upon the mat I5 when the strip is fastened in position. Rigidity of the body portion I! is assured by embedding therein a suitable stiffening member 22, such as a metal angle formed preferably of iron.

The strip I6 may be secured in position in any suitable manner, preferably by pins, screws or the like in holes extending through the strip, such as holes 23 in the resilient member aligned with holes 24 of larger diameter in the reenforcing member 22 (which are shown in exaggerated scale for clarity). The holes may be provided in a single operation with a piercing tool of uniform diameter, the resiliency of the rubber causing the hole formed therein to be of smaller diameter than that formed through the metal reenforcing member 22. This differential in diameter is desired since it may provide close contact between the shank of the fastening member and the rubber material and permit a fluid-tight seal about the head of the fastening member when the latter is sunk into the outer face of the strip. After the strip is anchored in position by screws or the like the heads thereof may be covered by any suitable filling and sealing compound.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 suitable screw anchoring means 25 may be if desired located in recesses in the floor and/or adjacent upright structure and screws 25-26 positioned in the holes 23-24 which when tightened up cause the anchoring molding strip I6 to clamp the edge of the floor mat I5 in position in the manner previously described. These screws 2626 constitute elongated fastening members which extend substantially from the apex of the metal angle reinforcing member 22 at obtuse angles with respect to the engaging faces I8 and I9 so as to draw the strip into the proper mat-clamping position. The previously mentioned fillers for covering screw heads is shown at 21.

As will be seen in the drawing the dimensions of the anchoring molding strip I6 are of fair extent so as to cover a substantial portion of the wall M adjacent the surface of the mat IE to prevent direct contact therewith by the hooves of the animal, provide a smooth, relatively gentle curve to enhance the appearance and to insure suflicient thickness of the body portion I'I t'ending to keep the animals forelegs a sufficient distance from the wall I4 materially to reduce any tendency to be bumped thereagainst, to provide a face of substantial area clamping the front end of the mat I5 in position, and to insure efficient exclusion of fluid and refuse from the crack existing between the end of the mat I5 and the wall I 4. While efficiently anchoring the mat I5 in position, molding strip I6 avoids the use of fastening means forming breaks in the surface of the mat and the formation of hard spots, bumps, protuberances or the like on or in the surface of the mat which might occasion discomfort and further interfere with efficient cleansing.

Stalls of the'type illustrated by way of example equipped with the mat I5 and the anchoring molding strip I6 can be easily and quickly cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition by flushing with water which will flow along merging surfaces of the substantially upright wall structure, the smooth outer surface of the anchoring molding strip and the upper surface of the mat into the gutter carrying with it all dirt, refuse and foreign matter. The embedded reenforcing member provides suitable rigidity of the body portion. of the molding strip to insure efficient clamping of the end of the mat in position while the covering of smooth, soft, cushioning, resilient and moistureimpervious rubber gives the desired indicated physical protection, elimination of abrupt angles, fluid-tight seal, cooperative clamping action, etc., above indicated.

While it is now preferred to use resilient rubber, other materials such as suitable synthetic compositions or the like having the desired indicated properties may be used in carrying out the invention. Further it is to be understood that although it is desired to provide the molding strip with flexible edges, each arranged at an angle to the body portion as shown to insure fluid-tight seals and the outer face with a concave surface, these features are not essential to the practice of the invention. The back faces of the edge portions may respectively lie in the planes of the faces adapted to engage the surface of the upright structure and the upper surface of the mat, the molding strip being held by fastening means with sufficient force to compress the rubber to insure fluid-tight seals. Further the outer face of the molding strip may be of any desired shape which will substantially eliminate abrupt angles, such as substantially fiat or slightly convex, so long as they permit ready flow of flush water thereacross. Although the molding strip shown by way of example in the drawing is provided with engaging faces arranged substantially at right angles to each other, it is understood that the invention may be practiced where the surface of the mat meets the surface of adjacent structure at another angle or angles incompatible with the attainment of the desired ends indicated and so long as the cooperating portions of the molding strips are shaped in complement thereto. Obviously the use of the invention is not limited to cow barns, or to stables generally but may be used to advantage wherever it is desired to anchor in position a sanitary floor mat and to eliminate in a sanitary and readily washable manner sharp angles and corners between fioor and wall structures.

It will thus be seen that the objects indicated above are efficiently attained by the present invention and since certain changes may be made in the above article, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An anchoring molding strip for a sanitary floor mat comprising a body portion of soft, resilient, cushioning moisture-impervious material having a face adapted to engage a surface of substantially upright structure at a margin of a floor, a face adapted to engage the upper surface of a sanitary floor mat, a smooth outer face so shaped as substantially to eliminate abrupt angles when said. strip is fastened in position, and flexible edge portions on opposite sides of the outer face each arranged at an angle to said body portion so as to flex and form substantially fluidtight seals with the mentioned surfaces of the mat and upright structure of which the outer surface of the strip forms a substantial continuation when the strip is fastened into position; and a substantially rigid metal angle reenforcing member completely embedded in said body portion with the flange edges of said member extending toward but short of said flexible edge portions; said strip having apertures substantially at the apex of said metal angle to accommodate elongated fastening means to be arranged substantially at obtuse angles with respect to said engaging faces.

2. Sanitary fioor equipment comprising, in combination, a sanitary mat of soft, resilient, cushioning, moisture-impervious. material on a floor with an edge of the former at least near the margin of the latter'at a surface of substantially upright structure; an anchoring molding strip comprising a body portion of soft, resilient, cushioning, moisture-impervious material having a face engaging the surface of the substantially upright structure, another face engaging the upper surface of said mat, a smooth outer face so shaped as substantially to eliminate abrupt angles and flexible edge portions on opposite sides of said outer face flexed from positions angularly related to said body portion thereby forming substantially fluid-tight seals with the mentioned surfaces of said mat and the upright structure and with. the outer face of said strip forming a substantial continuation of said mentioned surfaces, and a substantially rigid metal angle reenforcing member completely embedded in said body portion with the flange edges of said member extending toward but short of said flexible edge portions; and elongated fastening members extending substantially from the apex of said metal angle at obtuse angles with respect to said engaging faces anchoring said strip into matclamping position.

BANCROFT W. HENDERSON. 

